Dr Ironton

Photo of SCP-XXXX “Dread 107” taken shortly after it was acquired by the D&RGW

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: One guard must be stationed next to the Mear Junction shed at all times. In the event that an instance of SCP-XXXX-1 begins, all staff must immediately clear the tracks and stand a minimum of 8 feet away from the rails. The 16.1-kilometer section of track is surrounded by a 4 meter tall electrified fence that must be checked for damage daily. Cameras, placed at regular intervals along the route, must be monitored at all times. Any civilians who approach the facility at Mear Junction at any time, or the fence during an instance of SCP-XXXX-1, must be given warnings, refused entry, and ordered to leave. Any civilian’s aboard the SCP during an instance of SCP-XXXX-1 must have their bodies recovered and turned over to the authorities for identification and return of the body to the family.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a narrow gauge American steam locomotive. SCP-XXXX’s wheel arrangement (classified under the Whyte Notation) is 4-4-0, also referred to as an American type. SCP-XXXX is equipped with a high powered gaslight headlamp, diamond type smokestack, standard brass bell, a brass 3 chimed American steam whistle, a Westinghouse style air compressor, and a wooden cab. Number plates on either side of the exterior of the cab are numbered 107. The tender is black, with the standard D&RG lettering in yellow paint.

SCP-XXXX usually stays contained within a two stall engine shed in the siding of an abandoned switchman shack, of which the ground floor has been converted into a staff break room, and the upper floor has been converted into a camera monitoring room. The location was formerly known as Mear Junction, an area where two routes for the D&RGW met. At infrequent times, an event classified as SCP-XXXX-1 begins, where SCP-XXXX will begin to leave its resting location at Mear Junction. SCP-XXXX-1 is signaled by two short whistle blasts. SCP-XXXX will begin to emit smoke and steam, however, the temperature of the boiler does not change. Source of smoke and steam is not yet known. SCP-XXXX will continue moving until it travels a distance of approximately 16.1 kilometers, after which it stops, the whistle blasts three times, and it reverses back to Mear Junction. Its arrival is signaled with a single whistle blast.

It has been found that instances of SCP-XXXX-1 only occur at night and on random dates. All tests with SCP-XXXX-1 have resulted in test subjects committing suicide in a state of insanity while aboard the train. Observed forms of suicide include jumping off of SCP-XXXX on a track section overlooking a small valley, jumping off the front and subsequently dismembered by the wheels of SCP-XXXX, and bashing one’s head on the engine’s cast iron backhead.

+ SCP-XXXX-1 Test File

Test XXXX-1-A: 06/14/1911 to 06/15/1911
D-612 boarded SCP-XXXX at Mear Junction on the 14th of June, 1911. Guards were ordered to keep D-612 aboard SCP-XXXX at all times, and to keep them well fed. At 04:00 hours on the 15th of June, 1911, an instance of SCP-XXXX-1 began. As SCP-XXXX departed from Mear Junction, D-612 was reported as appearing disturbed and nervous. Observer’s were stationed at regular intervals along the 16.1 kilometer route. Observer’s reported D-612 acting increasingly disturbed the further SCP-XXXX went. This continued until the observer at watch point six, stationed on the edge of a cliff overlooking the track, spotted D-612 leap from the cab of SCP-XXXX and fall into a river 21 meters below. SCP-XXXX seemed to be unaffected and continued moving until it reached the end of the line, after which it reversed back to Mear Junction. Recovery of D-612’s body was unsuccessful.

Documentation of tests B through F have been lost.

Test XXXX-1-G: 09/17/1913 to 09/22/1938
D-673 boarded SCP-XXXX at Mear Junction on the 17th of September, 1938. At 23:37 hours on the 21st of September, 1938, an instance of SCP-XXXX-1 began. Train Watchers observered D-673 clawing at his hair in a distressed manner. At 24:04 hours on the 22nd of September, Train Watchers reported that D-673 had walked to SCP-XXXX’s pilot and lept off the front, and was subsequently run over by SCP-XXXX. Once SCP-XXXX had returned to Mear Junction, D-673’s body was recovered. D-673’s arm and head had been dismembered by the wheels of SCP-XXXX.

Addendum - 12/14/1941
Following a recent incident in which two civilian boys snuck aboard SCP-XXXX during an instance of SCP-XXXX-1, and staff shortage due to recent world events, all testing has been postponed. Guards are to be stationed at regular intervals along the stretch between Mear Junction and the cliff face.

+ SCP-XXXX Research Log

This is an extensive file, documenting my research on the origin and history of SCP-XXXX.
-Dr. Ironton

Addendum - 05/23/1983
Here is what we know of SCP-XXXX’s origins as of now. SCP-XXXX was acquired by the foundation sometime around the the turn of the century. And that’s about it. Unfortunately, the foundation library, where all the files related to SCP-XXXX were kept, burned down. As far as we know, the records have been lost. I have contacted the site where the library was kept and have requested a complete search of their records for any references to a locomotive from the D&RGW.

Addendum - 05/28/1983
I have received news from the site record keeper that they have found files dating back to 1903 that reference a steam locomotive from the D&RGW numbered 100. While the number does not match the one currently held by SCP-XXXX, which is 107, it may still contain useful information. I am currently awaiting delivery of the files.

Addendum - 06/06/1983
I have received the contents of the file. The items include a record labeled 100 Whistle, hand written documents, and a document titled Anomalous Object Report dated 1903. All of the documents are incredibly fire damaged and faded. Most of the documents are damaged to the point where they are illegible, however a majority of the Anomalous Object Report can be read. I will get someone to restore the damaged documents as best as possible and find a way to play the record.

Anomolous Object Report No. 967
Date: 21st of February, 1903
Location of object: City of Alamosa, Colorado; United States of America.
Report Information: The foundation has recently been notified of a 4-4-0 steam locomotive, numbered one zero zero, and is currently owned by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company. The locomotive has not shown sufficient evidence of anomalous properties for it to be acquired by the foundation. Foundation informants posing as D&RG employees are gathering information on the locomotive, and are prepared to notify the foundation if they identify any possibly anomalous characteristics.

Addendum - 07/02/1983
After consulting an expert in audio recording, I was able to learn that the record is a shellac record, dating back to 1904. Once I found a staff member with ownership of a record player, I was able to listen to the record. It appears to be a recording of the aforementioned D&RG 100’s whistle.

A shellac record recording of D&RG 100’s whistle from 1904

I have also received word from the document restoration people. They’ve restored half of the documents and will be sending them to me soon.

Addendum - 07/08/1983
I have some concrete information now. The restored documents I have gotten back include special containment procedures, description, and explanation of the record. It seems like the special containment procedures are very similar to the current ones, but with a few key differences. There are no mentions of security cameras, which considering this document is dated 1908 is no surprise, and instead of cameras the document talks about people called Train Watchers. I’ve included a photo of the document and a transcript of the text written.

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX’s resting location is a shed next to a switchman’s shack at Mear Junction between Gunnison and the City of Alamosa, Colorado. Observers, codenamed Train Watchers are to be stationed at regular intervals along the route during tests. Any civilians who approach the facility at Mear Junction at any time, or the fence during an instance of SCP-XXXX-1, must be given warnings and refused entry. Anyone aboard SCP-XXXX during an instance of SCP-XXXX-1 will be reported as missing to the appropriate authority.
Item Description: __SCP-XXXX is an 1883 narrow gauge Baldwin 4-4-0 constructed for the D&RG Railroad.

(I haven’t finished this part yet. I’m really trying. Research is haaaaaaaaaaaaaard. While you wait for this part to get finished, did you know that the train in this SCP entry was real? It’s name is Dread 107 and it supposedly killed 100-200 people in 25 years of operation between 1883 and 1908.)